When do you have too much gun

.44 and higher is usually getting into that "too much gun" range. That is, unless the application suits the caliber, like bears and such
 
.44 and higher is usually getting into that "too much gun" range. That is, unless the application suits the caliber, like bears and such.
 
robhof

That squirrel story reminded me of my experience with a squirrel and too much gun for the job. I was sitting in a tree stand when a squirrel above me started chattering and sending bits of limbs down on me, the last straw was when squirrel droppings fell on me. I had my 357 for back up gun and always carried a speedloader of 38 wadcutters, sighted the rat in and pulled the trigger, caught him just behind the shoulder and down came the back half with the tail. I kept it and cooked it up just for spite, tasted good and was half cleaned.:):D:rolleyes:
 
I prefer larger calibers for carry guns, but it isn't required to shoot the heaviest loads in them. You can load a big gun down like a small gun, but a small gun will always be a small gun. The noise level of a 44 with medium level, or 44 spl level loads is far more pleasnt to shoot than a 357 magnum, and have much more room at the top end if you want it. I do in fact live in bear country, any time I walk out my door is potentially a day I could run into a bear (the G kind, as well as the B kind). I won't carry smaller caliber guns, they won't do the work a larger caliber gun will when it comes to large critters. Age has some bearing on what I like to shoot, heavy loads just aren't that much fun any more, but I keep them in the gun when out in the hills. I also find single action revolvers more pleasant to shoot with any given load than a DA because of the grip shape. I find myself carrying the Ruger 45 more often, and the Smith 29 less as time goes on.

I shoot small game and grouse with 30-30, 348 and 45-70. You just have to tailor the load to what you're doing. Round ball loads at low velocity work great, dont tear up the game, and are quiet to shoot. light cast bullet loads work well also.
 
At a pistol match we had one stage with a required 100 round count. Talk about cry babies. Waaa, boo-who, woe is me, tist tist. A few months later we had a 60 something round count stage where the range officials acually counted holes. 50% or more of the rounds were from regular competitors using all manner of 'race-guns'. I havn't heard that much cry babying since Bush won Florida. I know how tuff these, magnums-are-no-big-deal-to me, shooters are from behind the keyboard.
 
It might not be age per se; but some disease processes that are associated with age might limit one's ability to manipulate and fire certain handguns.

For example, my mother is 93 and has destructive arthrosis which has caused many of the joints in her hands and fingers to be partially destroyed and to deviate from normal function. This joint destruction is painful. Recoil is more problematic as it causes pain. This joint destruction causes her to use her hands less and leads to loss of strength.

At this point in her life, she has become incapable of competently firing a handgun of any type. A couple of years ago she came to this conclusion and gave back to me the 3" S&W model 36 I had given her for home defense.

Personally, I still shoot my full power .454 Casull and .44 magnum occasionally. I do not consider them to be within my range of self-defense cartridges. I limit myself to the 10mm auto on the upper end of the power range in a two pound handgun.
 
For some of us, especially those who are older and have extreme myopia, 12 gauge is too much gun. The heavy recoil can actually damage your retina.
 
I used to LOVE shooting my .454 Casull but ever since a bike wreck left a steel plate and a bunch of screws in my r/wrist the biggest I can comfortably shoot now is .44 mag.
 
My apologies to those whom age and injuries limit the enjoyment that shooting can bring.

For what it is worth, I’ve found that an all steel four inch K frame size .38 Special revolvers loaded with 158 standard pressure loads works great. The gun in big enough to hold on to, aim and reload. The Colt Official Police and DiamondBack 38s are making a real comeback. Best wishes to one and all.
 
About twenty years ago I found out the .454 Casull was too much gun for my wrists. I pass on that. No sense on hurting yourself.

Ditto with the .416 Rigby. Who needs a detached retina?
 
When it hurts to shoot that gun, it does not have to be the caliber, just the grip or trigger may hurt even thought it did not before. I have some arthritis in my hands and some guns that have been my favorites now hurt. Recoil was never a problem but it is now. The magnums and Rifle caliber contenders and encore are not fun now. Too soon old and too late smart. :D
 
Severe back pain can change everything.

I've gone from a Ruger SP101 in .327, which has plenty of juice and is very manageable, to pocket carry a Ruger LCP, and I find myself even leaving THAT at home on occasion.

Eyesight, joint pain, and many other age related issues can have an effect on what we carry.
 
I am at the stage of life where it is more fun to fondle the big calibers than shoot them. Hopefully one of my adult kids will pick my Raging Bull .454 when I allow them to each pick a gun on thanksgiving day, my collection will decrease by five by guns.
 
Kinda like "Too much fun"!

Too much fun? What's that mean?
It's like too much money, there's no such thing
It's like a girl too pretty, with too much class
Being too lucky, a car too fast
No matter what they say I've done
I ain't never had too much fun

No matter what they say I've done
I ain't never had too much fun
Give me the reins and let me run
'Cause I ain't never had too much fun
Click to expand...

If I can't hold it up, I'll bench rest it!!!
 
You might have a little too much gun when it's almost as scary to be on the right end of it as the wrong end of it.
 
I recently bought a used Ruger Security Six because my wife has trouble operating the slide on my Sig 226 and my 45acp. She even had trouble pulling the double action trigger. I had the trigger lightened and now she can operate it. So, that will be my home defense gun for her.
 
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